Offensive Replacement Level By Position

Sean Smith has an interesting article up at The Hardball Times about replacement level. The whole thing is worth reading, but I want to highlight one cool table:

REP POSITION
-32.5 Catcher
-27.5 Shortstop
-22.5 2B, 3B, CF
-12.5 Corner Outfield
-7.5 First base
-2.5 DH*

The number listed for each position is how many runs below average a player must be offensively to be considered replacement level (assuming average fielding ability).

So, at -7.5, first basemen have to hit just worse than major league average just to provide any value. On the other hand, catchers can be more than 30 runs worse than average and still deserve a spot in the majors. That's a 25 run difference between the two positions, which should explain why first basemen are extremely overrated.

* Added by Sky, not in Sean's article.

about 3 years ago Sky Kalkman 3 comments 0 recs |

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Comments

3B

Wow, I’d think 3B would be less valuable than CF and 2B, probably around -18. Interesting

by viktor06 on Nov 12, 2008 4:39 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, that always tends to surprise people. Me included.

One theory that I haven’t seen tested is that 2Bs have to turn double-plays, making it less easy for 3Bs to convert than if you just go by range.

Center field can be explained by the fact that it receives the most athletic lefty-throwers who can’t play 2B/SS/3B. So the player pool is much larger.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Nov 12, 2008 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

I've been led to understand that DHs are 5 runs off from 1B, not 10 runs

At this level, a DH would have to have about an .875 OPS to even be league average. That’s not observationally true. In point of fact, this year, the average OPS by a DH was .775.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 13, 2008 2:06 PM EST reply actions